Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-01-06
MATTE GRAY'S HASTY DECISION.

!
She was dead: an old woman, with
silvery hair brushed smoothly away
from her wrinkled forehead, and snowy
cap tied under her chin; sad. quiet
face; a patient mouth, with lines about
It that told OF sorrow borne with gentle
lirmness; and two withered. tired hands,
crossed with restful look. That was
all.
Who. looking at the sleeping form,
would think of love and romance, of a
heart only just healed of wound, re-
ceived long. long ago?
Fifty years she had lived under that
roof, farmers wife. If you looked
on the little plate on her coffin lid you
will see aged TO- there; and she was
only twenty when John Phillips brought
her home. q bride.
A half century she had kept her
careful watch over dairy and larder.
had made butter and cheese, and looked
after the innumerable duties that tall
TO the share of farmers wife. And
John had never gone with buttonless
sh rts or undarned socks; had not
come home to an untidy house and
scolding wife. His tr m, tidy Martha
had been his pride; and, though not a
aemonstrativo husband, he had boosted
sometimes of the model housewife that
kept his home in order
But underneath her quiet exterior
there was a story that John never
dreamed of, and would hardly have
believed possible had he been told.
She did not MARY for love. When she
was nineteen, rosy, happy girl. a
stranger came on visit to their little
village, and that summer was the
brightest and happ;est she ever knew.
Paul Gardner was the stranger name;
he was an artist, and fell in love with
the simple village e RI and won her
heart. and when he went away in the
autumn they were betrothed.
"l'll come again in the spring" he
said, Trust me, and wait for me,
Matte, dear"
She prom Sed to love and wait fot
him Il the end of time, if need be.
and, with kiss on her quiyer.ng ps,
he went away.
Matte Gray did not tell her father
and mother of her love, for they had
no liking for cit, folks. and had treat
ed Paul none too Hospitality when ne
yentured inside their house.
Sprip2ume came, and, true to his
word, Paul returned, He stayed only
day or two this time.
Il am gong away in a few weeks to
Italy to stud ;" he said. Il shall be
gone two years, and then l shall claim
you for my bride"
They renewed their VOWS, and part
cd with tears and tender, LOVING
words. He put tiny ring on h r finger
and cut little curl. tress from her
brown ha 7, and, telling her to BE- al
ways true and wait for him, he went
away.
The months went by, and Matte
was trying to make the time seem
short b. studying to improve herself,
so that she might be worthy of her
lover when he should return to make
her his wife.
at must b. about the time he is to
start" sue said to herself one day.
And BY and by, as she glanced over
he.
BY his name, and, with white ps and
dllateI eyes, she read of his marriage
10 another.
Married! Taken another bride, in
stead of com NJ back to marry me!
Oh, Paul. Paul! l loved and trusted
you for this"
She covered her face with her hands
and wept bitterly.
An hour aftcrward, as she sat there
in the twilight. with the fatal news
paper laying on her lap. she heard
step on the gravel walk, aud, looking
up, she saw John Phillips coming up
the steps, He had been to see her
often before, but he had never vet
spoken of love, and hid, of course, re-
ceived no encouragement to do so.
He was a plain, hard working farmer,
with no romance about him, but mat
ter of fact to the core. His wife
would get few caresses or tender
words. He would be kind enou. I'll
would give her plenty to eat and to
wear.
Now he seemed to have come for the
express purpose of asking her to be his
wife, for he took l char. and seating
himself beside her, after tia uslal
greeting, reserving scarcely moment
60 take breath, began N his business
like way to converse. There was 10
confession Of love, no pleading, no
hand-clasping. no tender Chances; he
simply wanted her. would she be his
wife? His manner was hearty enough;
there was no doubt he really wanted
her--would rather marry her than any
other woman he knew; but that was ali.
Her lips moved to tell Inn that she
d d not love HIN; but as she let her
c. es fall upon the crimson-hrarted rose
that >wung from the VINE over the
window. she caught sight of those few
Ines again.
MAR cdr she said to herself
"What can / do? He doesn't ask me
to love HIM. If MARI, m ! can be
q true WI e to him, and nobody will
know that Paul had ted me-"
] he decision was made. Her cheeks
were ashy pale as she locke up.
straight into his eyes, and answered
On city, Yes l w II b. your wife,
Her parents were pleased that she
was chosen by so well to do you 6
man; so it was all settled, and the,
were MARI ell that same summer
People thought she sobered dowr
wonderfully; more than that moth ms
was sad that would lead any one t,
suppose any change had taken place.
Yes, she was sobered down Sh,